Attachments
Introduction:
On February 6, 2023, two devastating earthquakes struck Pazarcık and Elbistan in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. The
earthquakes measured 7.7 and 7.6 on the Richter Scale, respectively, and were followed by over 3,100 aftershocks,
including a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Elbistan.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported¹ that impacts have been felt across 11 provinces, where a state of emergency has been declared. Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, and Gaziantep have been reportedly hit the hardest, while Elazığ has also been affected. These earthquakes are the largest to hit Türkiye in the last century and the most significant to strike the country's southeastern region in hundreds of years. The earthquakes and aftershocks have caused catastrophic devastation, with at least 9.1 million people in the 11 hardest-hit provinces likely to have been directly impacted. By February 15, more than 35,400 people in Türkiye had lost their lives, and tens of thousands were injured. The earthquakes struck while most people were sleeping, leaving many trapped inside buildings as they collapsed. More than 105,500 people were injured, and the death toll is expected to continue to rise as search and rescue operations continue, and recovery operations commence.
As a conlusion , the earthquakes damaged people's lives irrepairably. However, damaged residential areas, infrastructure and part of livelihoods can and need to be repaired immediately, in addition to pressing needs such as food, appropriate and warm shelter, medicine, and sanitation products. Providing medical care and psychological support and revival of livelihood opportunities have also the priority actions to be taken. The research indicates that the existing circumstances may pose risks related to public health (the spread of infectious diseases and the deterioration of chronic illnesses), psychological, protection (such as tension, child protection, and gender-based violence), food security, and livelihood aspects.